Collapsible awning



Aug. 27, 1946. QJ. MATHER COLLAPS IBLE fAWNING- Filed Dec. 19, 1938 .5mmau:

3 Sheets-Sheet l d/LM MotM/m Aug.27,1940. QJMATHER 2,213,141

COLLAPSIBLE AWNING Filed Deo. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Carra/7527766@woz/wana Patented Aug. 27, 19,40

UNTE' STATES rATNT ol-Fics S Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible awnings, and has particularreference to awnings of the type comprising a plurality of swingablymounted members swingable into erected or collapsed fcondition,

The primary objects of the invention are, to provide in such an awningoperating means particularly adapted for use therewith for erecting andcollapsing and maintaining said awning in either erected, collapsed, orany intermediate position; to provide each of said swingably mountedmembers with separate operating means to cooperate with an adjacentmember; and to provide means for simultaneously controlling all of saidseparate operating means from a single source to cause a simultaneousequal amount of relative movement of all of said members.

e. still further object is to provide such an awning in which the partsare at all times firmly maintained in any desired position of adjustmentso that, when applied to a vehicle, said awning does not rattle.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l represents a section on the line l-i of Figure 8, looking inthe direction of the arrows, of the preferred embodiment ofthe inventionas applied to a window of a building, said window or window frame beingshown in dotted lines;

Figure 2, a detail perspective view of one of the awning panels;

Figure 3, a detail perspective View of the operating member or cradle;

Figure 4, a vertical section through the vice shown in Figure l;

Figure 5, a detail vertical section through the overlapping portions oftwo adjacent panels showing the positions of their operating means inthe nearly erected position of the awning;

Figure 6, a section on the line '5 6 of Figure 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 7, a section on the line l-l of Figure 8, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 8, a top plan View of the invention incollapsed condition,omitting the top portion of Referring now in detail to the drawings, theframe of the device in which vthe moving parts are contained or housedpreferably consists of a rigid integral shell or casing or frameconforming in shape to the top of the window frame or opening to whichit is to be applied. The shell or frame of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention shown in the drawings is intended for use with asubstantially rectangular window and accordingly consists ofsubstantially parallel longitudinally channeled legsy or sides iintegrally connected at their upper ends to a transversely extendingchanneled member or top 2 to form a substantially inverted U-shapedframe.

As shown in the drawings, the legs l and top 2 of said channeled frameare preferably of U- shaped cross-section, the channels formed thereinbeing connected or continuous and opening at the front of said frame.

The frame may be provided with any suitable means, such as screws 3, formounting the device in a window, as in Figures 1 and 4 where the windowframe is shown in dotted lines. lt should be noted that the device isdisposed in the window on the outside of the Window sashes orpanes so asnot to interfere with the operation thereof Fivotally mounted in nestedrelation for swinging movement in and out of the channeled portion ofthe frame are a plurality of rigid panels 5 conforming in shape to saidchanneled portion. In the preferred embodiment each of said panels 5 isof substantially U-shape or inverted U-shape, as shown in Figure 2, thelegs i thereof preferably being fan shaped and provided at their lowerends with bearings or bearing holes 9.

All of the panels are pivotally mounted in nested relation one 'withinanother in the frame by means of pivot pins ll passing through thebearing holes 9 of their respective legs l. Each of said pivot pins llextends through and is supported by the sides of one of the legs l ofthe frame and maintained in such position by suitable means, such ascotter pins ll passing transversely through one endthereof. The otherend of each said pivot pin ll may be in the form of the usual bolt head,as shown.

In order to insure that the panels 5 of the device in operationwillnot'interfere with each other it is desirable to provide spacers orwashers i9 journalled on pivot pins -ll between the adjacent pivotallymounted legs l of each of the respective panels 5. Also it is to benoted that since the panels 5 are disposed in nesting relation andpivoted for swinging movement on a common axis, the legs 1 of each inneror lower panel 5 are somewhat shorter than the legs 1 of the adjacentupper or outer panel 5.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, it is desirable to form the top ofeachpanel 5 and the top or top portion 2 of the supporting frame ofslightly arcuate cross-section.

Each of said panels 5 and the outer portion of the casing is providedwith an independent or separate operating cord o'r means in operativeengagement with the respective adjacent lower panel to in operationcause a relative swinging movement between said panels 5.

It is preferred to carry out this feature of the invention by providingthe outer portion of the casing, which functions as a stationary panel,and each of the pivotally mounted panels 5, with cord sheaths or guidesor guide means consisting of hollow headings 2|, preferably integralwith and extending along each edge of, the lower face of each of saidpanels 5 and the outer portion or stationary panel of the casing.

The respective guide channels or beadings or guides 2| of each of saidpanels 5 and the casing or frame are formed with oppositely disposedholes or apertures or cord openings 23 provided with rounded edges orother suitable means to prevent fraying or cutting of the operating cord25 slidably passing therethrough.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings eachpanel5 and the casing is provided with two separate operating cords 25to cooperate with the respective adjacent panel 5, although both of saidcords 25 operate in the same way and only one is necessary to thesuccessful operation-of the invention. However, the provision of twosuch cords 25 to each panel 5 serves as a safeguard in that, if one ofsaid cords 25 frays or breaks, the operation ofthe device will not beinterrupted or impeded.

Each of the exible cords or wires 25 extends from a point near the lowerend of one leg 1 of its respective panelv 5 upward/through the beading2| along one edge of said panel 5, .out of hole 23 of said beading andtransversely across the under face of its respective panel 5 to bereceived in the oppositely disposed hole 23 of the beading 2| on theopposite edge of said panel 5 and back down through said beading 2| tothe starting point.

The transversely. extending portion of each said flexible cord 25 ofeach panel 5 is attached by suitable means to the adjacent lower panel5, the preferred attaching means consisting of lugs or stop lugs 21xedly mounted on the upper face of each of said panels 5 in alignmentwith each set of oppositely disposed holes 23 in the beadings 2| of thepanel 5 disposed immediately thereabove. Each said lug 21 may be formedwith a bore or hole through which the transverse portion of thecooperating cord 25 is passed and provided with a set screw 29 at rightangles to and extending into said hole to be tightened or screwedagainst the cord 25 to prevent said cord from sliding through said lug.

Preferably each said lug`21 is disposed in such a position with respectto the cooperating beadings 2| of the adjacent panels 5 that thebeadings 2| of each said panel 5 act as limit stops for movement oftheir cooperating lugs 21. Thus, as may be seen in Figure 4, in thecompletely erected condition of the awning all of the lugs 21 of eachpanel 5 are in engagement with the respective front edge beadings 2| ofthe panels 5 disposed thereabove.

Preferably each lug 1- l is disposed at or near the rear edge of itsrespective panel 5 so that in the erected condition of the awning, asshown in Figure 4, the greater portion of each of said panels 5 mayproject outward in staggered relation clear of the panel disposedimmediately thereabove. In the collapsed condition of the awning all ofthe lugs 21 rest against the respective rear edge beadings 2| of thepanels 5, as in Figure 1.

It should be noted of course that the headings or guide channels 2| maybe dispensed with in the lowermost or innermost panel 5, and the lugs 21may be dispensed with on the casing or frame top 2. l

From the foregoing it may be seen that pulling on the ends of the cords25 of a panel 5 or of the outer or stationary panel portion of thecasing or frame causes swinging movement of the panel 5 disposedimmediately therebeneath.

Any suitable means are provided for simultaneously pulling the cords 25in the same direction to cause either a simultaneous outward swinging ofthe panels 5 to erected condition or a simultaneous inward swinging ortelescoping thereof to collapsed condition.

The operating or actuating means of the preferred embodiment of theinvention is a pivoted sheet metal or other suitable material member orcradle, shown in detail in Figure 3. Said cradle consists of a curvedplate 3| provided with cord attaching means such as rows o'f holes 31disposed along its straight end edges. Extending upward from each sideedge of said plate 3| is an integral sector shaped side 33, said sides33 being provided at their upper edges or extremities with axially'aligned outwardly extending pivots or trunnions 35. If desired, arigidly attached operating knob or handle 4| may be mounted on saidcradle or actuating means.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the cradle is pivoted transversely acrossthe inside of one of the legs 2 of the casing for swinging movementtherein, the pivots or trunnions 35 being journalled or disposed insuitable bearings or bearing holes formed in the sides thereof. As thusdisposed, the vbottom curved plate 3| lies beneath the ends of the panellegs 1 disposed in said casing and the sides 33 of the cradle liebetween the group of panel legs 1 and sides of casing leg In order toprevent pivot pin of the panels 5 from interfering with the swingingmovement of said cradle the sides 33 thereof are formed witharcuateslots 39 through which said pivot pins may be passed duringassembly of the device.

'I'he ends of all the operating cords 25 leading from the .rear edgeguide channels or headings 2| of all the panels 5 and the outer portionof 'the casingfunctioning as a stationary panel are respectively ledaroundland under the Washers or spacers 9 which act as pulleys andthereafter fastened to the front edge of the cradle, as shown, as byknotting said cord ends through the respective holes 31 of said edge.

Similarly the ends of all the operating cords 25 leading from the frontedge guide channels 2| of all the panels 5 and the casing are passedunder the washers or spacer pulleys I9 and attached to the rear -edge ofthe cradle through holes 31.

Preferably the rear wall of the casing is cut away directly in back ofthe operating cradle, as at 43, so that the hand of the operator may beinserted through said opening 43 thus formed to properly grasp handle 4|to swing said cradle during operation of the device. If desired, the

-their respective ends in saidframe in nested reoperationg means orcradle may be suitably connected by any known means such as a rod orwires, etc. (not shown)` for operation from lnside the building orvehicle to which the device is applied without the necessity of openingthe window thereof.

It may thus be seen that rearward swinging movement of the cradle oroperating means causes a simultaneous pull on all the rope or cord endsattached to the rear edge of the cradle, said cord ends'being the oneswhich extend from the front edge headings 2| of the respective awningpanels 5 and the casing, to cause a simultaneous relatively edual amountof outward swinging of all of the panels 5 toward erected position.Also, it may be seen that during the progress of said outward swingingmovement of the panels 5 during erection of the awning, the movement ofthe cradle serves to let out the ends of cords attached to the rear edgeof the cradle while exerting a pull on the opposite ends of said cords25, thus at all times preventing any slack in said cords. Thus bysuitabler manipulating and positioning of the operating handle di theawning may be placed and maintained in either erected or collapsed, orany intermediate position.

in order to collapse or telescope the awning the cradle may he .swung inthe opposite or forward direction, with a consequent reverse in thedirection of movementof said cords 25 and panels 5.

Any suitable means may be provided for locking the actuating means orcradle so as to maintain the awning in erected or collapsed condition orin any intermediate position, the preierred means consisting of rubberor ber or other high friction material washers iii mounted on shaft llbetween the respective adjacent sides 33 of the cradle and the sidewalls of the frame leg l, to bear against said sides 33 and frictionallymaintain the cradle in any desired position.

The device of this invention may he constructed of any suitable materialsuch as sheet metal, preferably of a light weight metal such asaluminum, and manufactured by suitable sheet metal stamping operations,and as thus constructed is particularly well adapted for useonautomobile or other vehicle windows due to the fact that the partsthereof are at all times iirmly maintained in any desired position oi'.adjustment so that all rattling is eliminated.

Although the preferred embodiment has been herein shown and described asof substantially il-shape, or inverted U-shape, for use in connectionswith rectangular windows, it is thought to be apparent that the shape,as well as numerous other- .details of structure, vmay be suitablymodiiied to adapt the device for use with any shape or type of windowwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

Also, it is to be noted that the headings or cord guides 2l of thepreferred form of the invention serve to conceal the portions of theoperating cords 25 disposed therewithin, and if desired, suitableprovision (not shown) may be made for concealing the transverselyextending portions of said cords or wires 25 from view.

I claim:

l. A collapsible awning comprising, an inverted substantially U-shapedchanneled frame, a portion of said frame constituting a 4stationaryawning panel, a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped panelspivotally mounted at lation one beneath vthe other for swinging movementabout a common axis in and out of the channeled portion of said frame,and integral hollow headings extending along each edge of the lower faceof each except the lo'wer of said panels, the headings of each of saidpanels being formed with oppositely disposed openings, and lugs iixedlymountedon the upper face of each pivotally mounted panel in alignmentwith the oppositely disposed openings in the headings of the panelthereabove, in combination with operating means comprising lindependentoperating cords carried respectively by each of said panels,

'all of said operating cords passing around and close to the axis ofswinging movement of said panels, each said operating cord being in theform of a loop having portions slidably disposed in each of the headingsof its respective panel and ex- Atending transversely for movementacross the lower face thereof through the oppositely disposed openingsof said headings, the transverse portion of each said loop being xedlyattached to a lug of the panel disposed therebeneath, and a common meansfor simultaneously controlling all or" said cords from a single sourceto cause a simultaneous relatively equal amount of movement of saidpivotally mounted panels, said means comprising a cradle rockablymounted in said frame in xed engagement with allof said operating cords.y

2. A collapsible awning comprising, an inverted substantially U-shapedchanneled frame, a portion of said frame constituting a stationaryawning panel, a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped panelspivotally ,mounted in said in combination with operating means compris-'ing independent operating cords carried hy said panels, all of saidcords passing around and close to the airisl of swinging movement ofsaid panels, each said operating cord being in the form of a loop havingportions slidably disposed in each of the headings of its respectivepanel and extending transversely for movement across the lower facethereof through the transversely opposed'openings of said headings, thetransverse portion of each said cord being fixedly attached to the paneldisposed therebeneath, and a cradle rockably mounted in said frame inxed engagement with all of said operating cords for simultaneouslycontrolling all of said cords to cause a simultaneous equal amount ofrelative movement of said swingahlyI mounted panels.

3. A collapsible awning comprising a channeled frame, and a plurality ofpanels pivotally mounted in said frame for swinging movement about acommon ams in and out of the channeled portion of said frame, incombination with operating means comprising separate operating cordsrespectively carried by said frame and each of said panels in engagementwith its respective adjacent panel to cause relative swinging movementthereof, all of said cords passing around and close to the axis ofswinging movement of said panels, and a cradle rockably mounted in saidframe in engagement with all of said operating cords so that swingingmovement of said cradle produces a simultaneous movement of all of saidcords with a resulting swinging movement of all of said panels.

4. A collapsible awning comprising 'supporting means and a plurality ofpanels pivotally mounted in said supporting means, in combination withoperating means comprising a, cord slidably mounted for transversemovement across each panel and in nxed engagement with an adjacent panelto in operation cause relative movement between said panels, all of saidcords passing close to the axis of swinging movement of said panels.

5. A collapsible awning comprising supporting means, and a plurality ofawning panels swingably mounted in said supporting means, in combinationwith operating cords operatively connected to each adjacent pair ofpanels to in operation cause relative swinging movement thereof, all ofsaid cords passing close to the axis of swinging movement of saidpanels, and means for simultaneously controlling all of said operatingcords.

6. A collapsible awning comprising supporting means, and a plurality ofawning panels swingably mounted on said supporting means, in combinationwith separate operating means operatively connected to each adjacentpair of panels to in operation cause relative swinging movement thereof,all of said operating means passing near the axis of swinging movementof said panels.

7. A collapsible awning comprising supporting means, and a plurality ofawning panels mounted in said supporting means for swinging movementabout a common axis, in combination with operating cords connectedrespectively to each adjacent pair of panels, all of said operatingcords extending to and being operable from a location near the axis ofswinging movement of said panels.

8. A collapsible awning comprising supporting means, and a plurality ofpanels pivotally mounted on said supporting means for swinging movementabout a common axis, in combination with operating means carried by eachpanel comprising an operating oord having a portion disposed fortransverse movement across said panel, the transverse portion of saidcord being attached to an adjacent panel to cause relative swingingmovement thereof during transverse movement of said cord, and therespective ends of all of said cords passing around a point close to thecommon axis of swinging movement of said panels and being connected toeach other for simultaneous actuation.

CARROLL JAMES M A'IHER.

